Pittsburgh mayor quits re-election bid

February 28, 2013News Extra

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says he is abandoning his bid to seek re-election, but he will remain in office.

Ravenstahl made the announcement at 11 a.m. today after speculation fueled by an aide’s comments earlier this week that the mayor would soon call a news conference to discuss “some issues.”

He said the criticism of him regarding a federal investigation of city police business played a part in his decision. But he said he has not done anything wrong regarding the police department.

The probe is believed to center on a fund the police bureau kept for fees that bars and other businesses paid the city for using its off-duty police officers as security guard.

City Councilman Bill Peduto and Controller Michael Lamb have announced plans to challenge Ravenstahl in the May primary.

Ravenstahl became the city’s youngest-ever mayor at age 26. He took office in 2006 because he was City Council president when Mayor Bob O’Connor died, and won a special election in 2007 to finish that term.